I’ve been commuting from Warrington to Sheffield for almost three months now and I must say that as commutes go, it is a very enjoyable one. At 1 1/4 hours it is not just long enough that you can get some proper work done, while at the same time not making the day excessively long.
Additionally the journey takes me through the Peak District and the view is simply beautiful in almost any weather. When it snows (not much, but there has been some) then the hills are covered with a lovely, white dusting. One a sunny day the sun hits the green grass at such an angle to give it a lovely, warm glow. In the fog the hills seem to rise into nowhere. It’s a great way to start the day.
The trains (East Midlands Trains refurbished class 158 Express Sprinters, for those who wish to know) have mostly been on time so far, at least in the evening when I’m heading home (and when it counts most). The morning train tends to get stuck behind the slow stopping service into Manchester and then sometimes there are further holdups as it fights its way through Manchester and Stockport (which, I have just seen from the train window, has a “Hat Museum”). However, since I always have a seat by then and can work on the train, it doesn’t bother me much (funnily it seems to be worst on Thursday, I haven’t been able to track down why).
In Sheffield I get the tram up to the department. It’s a comfortable ride, except for the first few hundred metres where it runs on a dedicated track. I don’t know who laid the track, but it is neither straight nor flat. Weird.